Lamellar Keratoplasty for Hyperopia

PURPOSE: Lamellar keratoplasty for hyperopia (automated lamellar keratoplasty for hyperopia) can correct hyperopia by weakening the cornea with a deep lamellar resection. The safety and efficacy of the procedure is uncertain. METHODS: Twenty-four eyes of 17 patients underwent hyperopic lamellar keratoplasty using the automated corneal shaper (Chiron Corp, Irvine, Calif) by one surgeon using a flap technique. The mean attempted correction was +3.90 +/- 0.90 D (range, +2.00 to +6.00). The eyes were followed for 1 month (23 eyes) to 6 months (17 eyes). RESULTS: Six months after hyperopic lamellar keratoplasty, the mean difference between attempted and achieved correction was an undercorrection of +1.40 +/- 0.80 diopters (D) with 7 of 17 eyes within 1.00 D of the attempted correction. No eyes were overcorrected, and 15 eyes were undercorrected. In eyes with a refractive goal of emmetropia, uncorrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 13 of 15 eyes and 20/20 or better in 8 of 15 eyes. No eye lost two or more lines of spectacle-corrected visual acuity at 3 or 6 months postoperatively. Between 1 and 6 months, there was a mean hyperopic shift of 0.20 D. There was clinically significant epithelial ingrowth into the interface in two eyes. CONCLUSION: Hyperopic lamellar keratoplasty is an effective method of reducing hyperopia and induces little irregular astigmatism. The nomogram we used produces a consistent undercorrection. Refraction appears to stabilize at 1 month, but longer follow up is necessary to assess stability.